New lens from Nikon the NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

Nikon has introduce some more new lenses today. The one that I am excited about is the NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR you can read more about it at Nikon USA (here). The older version of this lens first introduced in 2003 made Ken Rockwell's list of Nikon's ten worst lenses because it was so unsharp. I had an old 24-120 3.5-5.6 and I didn't think it was as bad as Ken made it to be. I liked the lens because it was compact, worked on my full frame D-700 FX cameras and had a very useful zoom range on the cropped sensor of the DX camera ( it's about a 35-180 zoom).  I used my old 24-120 on many expeditions and got what I thought were some great photos that were acceptably sharp, but with it's variable aperture the lens was not perfect. 

If the new 24-120 f4 is anything near as sharp as the Nikon 16-24 f4 (Ken claims this is sharpest best handling ultrawide-zoom ever made and I agree) and If it is anywhere near as robust as some of Nikons newer pro lenses (Nikon says the new 24-120 f4 is weather sealed and the optics are nano coated) then this lens will be a must have lens for any adventure photographer. I look forward to getting my hands on one soon.

Comments

[ffb]

I don't believe the new 24-120 f/4 is weather sealed. At least not of the same category as 24-70, 70-200 and so on.

[Bill]

I read in the dpreview.com Nikon press release that the 24-120 f4 had rubber seals around the switches and the lens mount. It seems to me that this lens may have similar weather proofing gaskets of the 24-70 2.8 lens. That said the 24-120 f4 lens is made of plastic so it is not as robust as Nikons metal casing for the 24-70 or 70-200 pro lenses. I look forward to getting one to try out.

[ffb]

Nikon Sweden says it's not listed in the category "Professional rugged and moisture resistant".

[Bill]

Thanks for sharing that information from Sweden, so I guess it will be similar to the 16-35 f4.

[josh]

Looks like I am seeing it as expedition lens as well. Does anyone have any real first hand experience with it yet?

[Bill]

I haven't gotten my hands on the 24-120 f4 yet. The same day Nikon introduced the 24-120 they also brought out the 28-300 3.5-5.6. Both lenses are said to be sharp in Ken Rockwell's hands on review at http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/24-120mm.htm
I am still thinking of getting the 24-120 f4 because I would use it on my D-300s DX camera where it would be 36-180 f 4 lens.

[josh]

For more serious expedition shooting I am still thinking of picking up the 24-120 for the wider angle on the D700 (I use the wider side more then the 120). I had thought of carrying the old 20mm F/4 with the 28-300 as an option as well. Did you find the 28-300 or 24-120 a better choice for your work?

On really light weight adventures I am still sticking with the 16-85mm VR and now the D7000. Just sold off the D300 for the D7000 for an even lighter setup, with the addition of video, better high ISO, and 16mp.

[Bill]

The D-7000 looks like an excellent camera I have recommended that to several people I know who want to upgrade to a new camera body. Do you like results from the 16-85 dx lens? For my light weight expedition trips I have the D-300s body. Since I have only had this body for six months I will probably keep it for awhile longer. I have a fixed 20mm 2.8 that I use on it as well as a fixed 35 1.8 because I can use both in my Ewa waterproof housing. It seems many of my recent adventure trips involve waterfalls, rivers and general wet conditions.

[Josh]

I have carried the 16-85 with good results for a few years now. I carried it with a D300 on the JMT and brought back great landscapes as well as action shots. It is a compromise compared to my pro glass, but most of the time I stop down a bit anyways so that helps. I only use it when I am a major participant in an adventure that doesn't allow me to carry more pro gear. i.e. a 40 mile 6 day mountaineering trip in the N. Cascades this past summer. If I am shooting an assignment that allows me an assistant, horse packers, raft... then I would opt for other things.
That being said I have published quite a bit out of it. You might want to give it a look for the participatory all in one adventure lens. I love the 16mm end of the range. If only Nikon had a 16mm DX prime...

You mentioned your Ewa housing... a few years back I built a housing from a pelican case for a Grand Canyon shoot, but it needs replacing. How do you like the Ewa? does it mess with the TTL on the flash? How has it lasted in real world conditions. Leaks?

[Bill]

I have a pelican box I converted into a camera housing as well! I use that set up only as a fixed camera mounted on the raft or boat and triggered with a pocket wizard.

The ewa is water tight and I have not had leaks issues with it. The biggest drawback with the Ewa is it's not easy to see through the Ewa's viewfinder. I tend to just compose the blurry view finder and shoot. This is how I make that work, before sealing the camera in the Ewa I prefocus the lens, tape the focus ring in place and shoot on aperture priority to insure good depth of field from 4 feet to infinity. I use the 20 mm prime lens in the Ewa. This works well. A 16mm dx prime would be nice.

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[Deve Lee]

It's a good lens for Nikon cameras but it needs larger aperture
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